Knievel’s Wild Ride – A Preview

What comes to mind when you think of Robbie Knievel? That’s right, Evel Knievel! So, what’s a good way out from under the shadow of your legendary parent? You carry on the family tradition at a high level, then after about 30 years or so have passed; you get your own reality show. It’s the Liza Minelli career strategy. (Great, my very first paragraph for RealityNewsOnline compares Robbie Knievel to Liza Minelli.)

Knievel’s Wild Ride, though a great name for an amusement park attraction, is actually a new reality show debuting April 5 on A&E at 10PM/9C. The show chronicles the daily life of Robbie and his team as they prepare for a potentially life-ending stunt in each of the six episodes. Would anybody like to wager on how many scenes will involve Robbie’s team visiting him in the hospital?

I have high hopes for this show, as I firmly believe that good reality TV is primarily centered on dynamic personalities under stress. From what I can tell, there is no shortage of either dynamic personalities or stress on Knievel’s Wild Ride. So, using the information A&E has provided as a guide, let’s meet the cast of characters.

“Kaptain” Robbie Knievel: Robbie got his start working with his father at the age of 8. At 16, he had a falling out with his father and struck out on his own. He has broken all of his father’s motorcycle jumping records and now holds 25 world records. He vows one day to make the Snake River jump that his father famously failed at making in a rocket in 1974. It just goes to show that hating your parents can sometimes spur you on to greatness.

Krysten Knievel: Robbie’s 19-year-old daughter. According to A&E, “Krysten took the ‘evel’ out of Knievel.” I think what they’re trying to say is that she has forsaken the life of a stunt person and chosen to be a good student and involved in humanitarian endeavors.

Bill Rundle: Robbie’s life-long friend. Bill is Executive Director of “Knievel Days” in Butte, Montana and is known as the “Godfather of Butte.” He is described as “a straight-forward family man who doesn’t drink excessively.” Let’s see if he can maintain that on a reality show!

“Master” Brian Gates: Robbie’s bodyguard. Yes, they call him “Master Gates.” (Insert inappropriate joke here.) He’s an 8th degree black belt and a Heavyweight Champion Kickboxer. He has also protected Evel Knievel, Chuck Norris, Michael Douglas, Garth Brooks, Gwen Stefani, and Phil Collins. This begs the question, “Chuck Norris needs a bodyguard?”

Roman: Robbie’s Austrian roadie. Roman met Robbie in Sturgis, South Dakota. The two became friends and Roman was added to the team. His initial area of responsibility on the team was partying. Nowadays, he’s responsible for many various tasks.

Dan “Zuck” Zucker: Robbie’s Manager. “Zuck” takes care of Robbie’s business. “Zuck” books many press engagements leading up to a jump and his main anxiety is getting Robbie to them. Since joining Robbie in 1995, he has worked to keep him in the public eye and helped him regain some limelight. Now we know whom to thank for this show!

Todd: Team Knievel Ramp Builder/Backup Crew Chief. Todd is in charge of construction. But more fascinating than that, he used to date Darci, Robbie’s housekeeper/bookkeeper. Furthermore, word has it that Todd is volatile.

Rocker Pete: Team Knievel Roadie. He’s also a wannabe heavy metal singer trying to gain notoriety by gravy training off of Robbie Knievel. Good for him. How many heavy metal wannabes even have a job?

Jon Simanton: Robbie’s popular opening act. Jon is also known as “Weeble Knievel – The World’s Smallest Daredevil.” Though Jon is a little person, he jumps over one more of whatever Robbie is jumping. Of course, he uses smaller replicas. Apparently, smallness is fundamental to the act.

Dan Haggerty: Grizzly Adams. Yes, THAT Grizzly Adams.

Spanky Spangler: Robbie’s stunt coordinator. Spanky has performed more stunts than anyone in the world (22,000). He is also a former Green Beret commando whose résumé also includes “three Hall of Fame honors and 22 World Records.”

So, the table is set. On Tuesday nights on A&E, we’ve got Robbie Knievel, death-defying stunts, partying bikers, a saintly daughter, a little person, tough guys with silly names, and Grizzly Adams. I’d like to see Liza Minelli top that!

Jeff Friend is best known as writer and co-creator of the “Which Circe?” comic strip featured in The Wittenburg Door Magazine. He currently lives in seclusion with his wife and sons in Seattle. E-mail him at fussellian@gmail.com.

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